Podcast
Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens
Hosted by Keys for Kids Ministries · EN
Unlocked is a daily teen devotional, centered on God’s Word. Each day’s devotion—whether fiction, poetry, or essay—asks the question: How does Jesus and what He did affect today’s topic? With daily devotions read by our hosts, Natalie and Dylan, and questions designed to encourage discussion and a deeper walk with Christ, Unlocked invites teens to both engage with the Bible and to write and submit their own devotional pieces.
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Blessed Memories
2d ago00:04:32Tap to summarizeREAD: DEUTERONOMY 4:9; PSALM 78:1-16 I was in middle school when I first took an interest in the Civil War, particularly the role that my third great grandfather, Michael Sallander, played in it. He was only a teen and a recent immigrant when war broke out, yet he still enlisted in his home state of Wisconsin, lying about his age to do so. All four of his brothers enlisted as well. One died—the younger brother who enlisted with him and fought beside him. Two or three of the Sallander brothers were prisoners of war, including my grandfather, and another one was so debilitated by disease that he never returned to the farm. Despite the horrors of war and its long-lasting impact on his family, Michael served alongside a number of Methodist ministers who profoundly impacted his life—to such an extent that he was ever after described as a happy man of faith in my great-grandmother’s stories. Every Memorial Day, a holiday initially created to remember Civil War veterans, I think of Michael and thank God for his life, his faith, and his sacrifice. There is a blessing in remembering the faithful who have gone before us, and I believe we have a responsibility to remember the ways our ancestors and spiritual role models lived and died in faith. After all, God can use their examples to inspire us and the generations after us—to reassure us of prayers that did not die with the faithful, but continue to surround us now (Hebrews 11:13-16; 11:39–12:3; Revelation 5:8). This Memorial Day, consider taking a moment to remember the people strong in the faith who came before you. You might ask Christian family members or church members in your life for stories about their faith, about the ways they have seen God move in their lives, and about the people who inspired them to know God better. Perhaps Memorial Day can become a holiday of grateful remembrance for us all. • Abigail Aswegen • Jesus loves us, and His death and resurrection made the way for us to be united with Him and other believers through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have become part of His family, the church—which includes all believers around the world and throughout history. Our faith has been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. How can it be helpful to hear the stories of those who walked with Jesus before us? What stories of His faithfulness in your life do you want to pass on to the next generation? “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.” Isaiah 46:9 (NIV)
Transcribe →Redeeming Language
3d ago00:04:50Tap to summarizeREAD: GENESIS 11:1-9; ACTS 2 Diversity in language is an important part of God’s creation! In fact, language is one of the many ways God shows how creative He is—and how He is redeeming all that He has made. The creation of different languages happened at Babel. The people were guilty of being prideful and wanting to make a lasting name for themselves because of their own work. Their sin was deserving of judgment, and it was keeping them from fulfilling God’s very first calling to humanity: “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it” (Genesis 1:28). God could have struck down the people of Babel, but instead He showed them mercy and scattered them, suddenly causing them to speak different languages from each other. This separation interrupted their wickedness and allowed them to explore and live in different parts of God’s creation instead of simply remaining in one place. Fast forward to Pentecost, when God gives us a glimpse of the new creation. After Jesus died for our sins on the cross, rose from the grave, and ascended into heaven, the day of Pentecost came. The Holy Spirit was poured out, and each listener was able to hear the Apostle Peter preach in their own language. Because of this miraculous event, many people heard the gospel (or good news) and put their trust in Jesus. So, at Pentecost, God used the power of language to unite His people. Instead of the judgment, confusion, and division of Babel, God used the diversity of language to bring unity around salvation in Jesus. In other words, our salvation in Jesus Christ and our belief in Him is what unites us. In God’s kingdom, people from all different lands, cultures, and languages will unite in praise to Him. The stories of Babel and Pentecost demonstrate how God takes all things and works them for good and for His renewed kingdom (Romans 8:28-30). • Naomi Zylstra • Have you ever experienced a communication barrier due to language? What was that like? Have you ever imagined what it will be like when Jesus returns, and all God’s people will be able to understand each other effortlessly? • God delights in the great variety of languages and cultures in His creation—it’s a beautiful thing! What are some practical ways we can honor and enjoy our differences, especially within the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb...shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10 (NLT)
Transcribe →God of the Impossible
4d ago00:04:57Tap to summarizeREAD: LUKE 8:22-56 Who doesn’t love a good superhero movie? It’s fun to imagine someone “somewhere out there” who’s not bound by the laws of nature like we are—someone who comes to the rescue when weak earthlings find themselves in trouble they can’t escape. While many of us daydream of being a superhero, I think many of us also have a craving to be rescued by a superhero. And those dreams of a rescuer are not that far off. If you’re familiar with the true stories found in the Bible, you know that unpredictable, unexplainable, unimaginable rescue stories appear quite frequently in both the Old and New Testaments. Think about it: a boy defeating a giant with one stone, a man kept alive in a pit of hungry lions, a raging storm stilled in an instant, thousands upon thousands of people crossing the Red Sea on dry ground, a man healed from lifelong blindness, a twelve-year-old girl brought back from the dead…and the God of the universe becoming human to defeat the devil in the most unexpected way—by dying and rising again. The angel Gabriel was right: “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). The beautiful thing is that the God who performed all these wonders is the same God who loves us today. He is always doing wonderful things, we just have to open our eyes to see. A friend once told me, “God does His best work in the impossible.” In fact, the cross is how we know that nothing is impossible for God. On the cross, Jesus accomplished the impossible—and He did it for you. What impossible things are you facing in your life? Give them to the Lord. Be like Jairus, a man who came to Jesus in his darkest hour. Jesus told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe…” (Luke 8:50). Then Jesus raised his daughter from the dead. In the same way, we can go to Jesus with any need, trusting Him to work in every situation for our good and to right every wrong in His perfect timing. Life in God’s kingdom is better than any story Hollywood can create—because we can always count on the God who calls Himself our Rescuer. • Emily Rudolph • Why do you think there are so many movies about superheroes? Which is your favorite? • Read Ephesians 3:14-21. What does this passage reveal about God’s power? • What impossible but wonderful things does God promise His people, either now or when Jesus returns? (If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 28:20; John 5:17; 14:15-31; Romans 8:18-39; Philippians 4:11-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Peter 3:8-13; 1 John 5:11-15; Revelation 21:1-5) “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37 (CSB)
Transcribe →Hannah: Anguished Prayers
5d ago00:04:48Tap to summarizeREAD: 1 SAMUEL 1:1-10; 2:1, 21 Recently, I had the opportunity to share with some friends about a woman from the Bible. As I started reading about Hannah in preparation to share her story, a few things stuck out to me. Hannah was seeking the Lord consistently as she prayed for a child. First Samuel 1:10 describes this prayer as marked by deep anguish and bitter crying. This was very relatable for me. Even now, I have something deeply personal that I am asking of the Lord in prayer. Often, my prayers are covered in tears. Sometimes I find myself thinking, When will the Lord answer? I wonder if Hannah thought that too. You see, Scripture says that Hannah’s prayers for a child went on year after year. She kept seeking the Lord. Yet, she was also honest about the sadness she felt during this time. Miraculously, the Lord gave Hannah a child—Samuel! Not only that, but Hannah went on to have three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21). I can only imagine how excited Hannah must have been! And after Samuel was born, she continued to pray, praising the Lord for His faithfulness. Hannah found her strength and joy in the Lord (1 Samuel 2:1). Hannah’s story taught me that it’s okay to pour out our hearts to the Lord with honesty and emotion. You and I are not meant to carry what we’re going through alone. The Lord is with us, and He wants us to invite Him into every part of our lives. Especially the painful, messy parts. I think the Lord wants to create something new in you and me today—maybe a desire to seek Him, peace in His presence, trust in His character, or joy in glorifying Him. Whatever the Lord has in mind, you and I can trust in His plans, purposes, and promises, just like Hannah did. • Daevis McMurphy • Have you ever prayed for something for a long time without seeing any hope? Sometimes we might feel like we just can’t keep praying. But Jesus is with us, and He feels our sorrow as His own. We don’t need to be embarrassed of our tears, because our Savior weeps with us, and He longs to comfort us in His loving arms. Because He died and rose again for us, there is always hope. (Isaiah 40:11; Matthew 26:36-46; John 11:35; Hebrews 4:14-16; Revelation 21:1-5) • Can you think of any ways you’ve seen God’s faithfulness, or even an answer to prayer? Consider taking some time to rejoice in the Lord and praise Him today, whether it be through singing, dancing, writing praises to Him, or something else! Then Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the LORD! The LORD has made me strong...I rejoice because you rescued me.” 1 Samuel 2:1 (NLT)
Transcribe →Unashamed
6d ago00:04:59Tap to summarizeREAD: PSALMS 1:1-6; 3:3; ISAIAH 61:10; LUKE 15:11-32 I was probably in high school when I started continuously reading the psalms. Whenever I get to Psalm 150, I start over again. But I usually don’t look forward to Psalm 1. Maybe it’s because, when I read these verses, I’m confronted with the reality that I don’t measure up. But when I read Psalm 1 a few days ago, I noticed I felt shame, and then I did something different. The Holy Spirit graciously prompted me to repent. To honestly tell God, I don’t measure up to this, and I’m sorry. I want to be like this— to not mock people, even if it’s just in my heart, even if it’s just because of my own insecurities. Instead, I want to meditate on Your Word day and night, and I’m sorry that I haven’t been. Do you know how I felt in that moment? Calm. It felt good. I like repentance. As it turns out, repentance is kind of the opposite of shame. And it gets better. Verse 5 says, “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.” On first read, that doesn’t sound like good news. But all the sudden, I realized something: this means the righteous will stand in the judgment. And that includes me. Not just when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead, but right here and now. To be clear, I sin every single day, just like everyone else. But the good news is, Jesus has made me righteous. He saw all my sin, and He loved me. So much that He was determined to bring me near and make me innocent. He went to the cross, took all my sin upon Himself, suffered the agony I deserved, and just before He breathed His last, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). On the cross, my sin was forgiven. Thinking about all this, I was reminded of Luke 15, when Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son. After ruining his life and wasting everything his father had given him, the son returned home, head heavy with shame. But his father was watching and waiting for him to return, and when he saw him, he ran to him, threw his arms around him and kissed him! And then the father called for a ring to be placed on his son’s finger and the best robe to be put on him. The father honored his son—not because he deserved it, not in the least! But because he loved him and rejoiced that he was home (Titus 3:5). That’s what God does for us. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, by faith, we are clothed in the robes of His righteousness. So we are free to confess our sins, to lay down our burdens and shame, knowing that we are already forgiven and deeply, truly loved. • Hannah Howe • God invites us into the freedom of repentance. Consider taking some time to confess any sin that comes to mind. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:5 (NIV)
Transcribe →What Do I Still Lack?
1w ago00:03:48Tap to summarizeREAD: PSALM 23; MATTHEW 19:16-30 The rich young man approaches Jesus with one question on his mind: “What good must I do to have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). When Jesus tells him to obey the law given to Moses for all of Israel, the man is confident he has kept all the law. Yet he knows he’s still missing something, so he asks, “What do I still lack?” (verse 20). We all ask ourselves this question in different forms. What am I missing? Why doesn’t anyone like me? Why am I not good enough? How am I such a failure? Why can’t I do anything right? However, Jesus’s response to all these questions is simple. In essence, it’s like He’s saying, “What you value more than Me is stopping you from resting in Me.” It is only in Jesus that you are called a son or daughter of the Most High God, only in Jesus that you are fully known and fully loved. It is only in resting in Jesus—and what He did—that we find true peace and fulfillment. What do we still lack? Once we know Jesus, we lack nothing. Jesus loves us, and He delivered Himself up for us on the cross and rose from the grave— providing the path to eternal life. Therefore, we have everything in Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). • Samuel Dennis • What do you feel you are lacking in your life? Where do you tend to go looking for ultimate fulfillment? • Jesus is the only one who can truly fulfill our wants and needs. He invites us to come to Him, just as we are, and trust Him with our lives—following His gentle leadership (Matthew 11:28-30). In your own life, what might it look like to run to Jesus instead of to created things? Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 (CSB)
Transcribe →The Restorer
1w ago00:06:28Tap to summarizeREAD: PSALM 36:5-10; MATTHEW 11:25-30 “Oh God, where are you? I failed the audition. I feel so foolish. Please help me.” Ember prayed, gasping, tears falling. Trembling underneath the weeping willow tree, her quiet space, she shut her eyes tightly, blocking out the world, focusing on what her grandmother used to say. Pray, darling. Jesus meets us anywhere. A voice called, “Go inside the workshop.” Startled, Ember opened her eyes. The tree had disappeared, and now in its place was a stone workshop. The door creaked open. Ember stepped inside. Ruby lights shone—heart-shaped, untouchable myriads of lights, glimmering as if from another galaxy. Hearing a gentle tapping, she moved forward. A heaviness slowed her steps as crying echoed around her. Layers upon layers of glass-like shards were stacked up on a workbench. So many that, at first, she didn’t notice the figure standing in the corner, his head bent down, obscured by the fragments around him. Patiently he worked, concentrating systematically on the broken, clear pieces until they transformed red, became whole, and floated away. “Ember, my cherished daughter. Welcome.” His words reverberated in her soul. “Each heart is created beautiful. But in this flawed world, they are so easily broken, like yours.” Ember’s throat dried up. She cast her head down, silent tears falling. “I am the Restorer. I understand your pain. I’ve lived with you, throughout your suffering. A heart may be shattered, but I can make it whole again. Trust in me to heal your brokenness, and in me you will find rest.” Ember looked up. She watched as, one by one, the hearts on the table were restored. The crying had stopped, and she saw the marks on the Savior’s hands, reaching out for each broken piece with love. His eyes were warm and deep, and she got the impression that a luminous light radiated from within Him. Falling to her knees, she prayed, “Jesus, my Lord and Savior. I offer my heart to you.” Suddenly, Ember was outside next to the weeping willow. The stone workshop had vanished. Her pain replaced with peace in her spirit. Jesus was with her. Unburdened and free, she ran back home, restored. • Cindy Lee • Today’s allegorical story offers a glimpse of the kindness and faithfulness of Jesus. So many things can happen in this fallen world that leave us feeling brokenhearted. Ever since the first humans sinned, life is not as it should be. Yet God doesn’t abandon us in our sin and brokenness. He reaches out—and restores us. Whether our sorrow is caused by the general imperfection of the world, other people’s particular sin, or even our own sin, Jesus always wants to heal us. What kinds of things have left you feeling brokenhearted? • Our hearts were made for relationship with God, and even though humans rejected God and chose sin instead, He paid the ultimate price to make that relationship possible again. When Jesus died for us on the cross and rose from the grave, He made the way to forgive our sins and make us new. Though we often look to created things to give us relief from our grief and despair, it’s only in relationship with our loving Creator that our hearts can truly be restored. How does Jesus meet us in our suffering and give us hope? • Sometimes when a tragedy or life-changing event happens, it can shake our beliefs or make us angry with God, and this is perfectly normal. Can you think of a time you felt this way? Consider taking some time to share, not just your sadness, but also your worries, your anger, and your fears with Jesus—the one who died for you and loves you dearly. In addition to talking to Jesus, who is a trusted Christian in your life you can be honest with about your pain and any questions you may have? (If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future.) He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:3 (CSB)
Transcribe →Tech Detox
1w ago00:05:08Tap to summarizeREAD: PSALMS 23; 139 As I pull up to one of my favorite hiking locations along the shores of Lake Michigan, I take a deep breath. Intentionally, I leave my phone in the car and head to the trail with only my car keys. Five minutes in, I feel the stress and demands of the week begin to lessen. Soft green leaves rustling in the breeze. Sunlight dappling the trees, cheery bird song beckoning. Scent of decomposing leaves, springy moss beneath my feet. I step out from under the trees, and Lake Michigan waves in greeting. Perched high on a dune, bare feet in smooth sand, I recite once again: The Lord is my shepherd (inhale), I shall not want (exhale). He makes me lie down in green pastures (inhale), He leads me beside still waters (exhale). He restores my soul (inhale)... I can feel it, that soul restoration that comes when I remove distractions, quiet my mind, focus my heart, and listen to my Jesus. Here, I am present and at peace. This isn’t a mindlessness, but a mindful fixation on being here with my Lord—walking with Him. On the journey back, I ask Him: What do you want me to meditate on today? He brings Psalm 139 to mind, memorized years prior. I whisper each verse as I walk, considering. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. I lift my eyes to the treetops, and there before me, ten or fifteen feet above, hangs a wooden cross about the size of my hand. I smile, surprised by joy again, unsurprised that He constantly shows me His love…sometimes I just need to slow down enough to see it. Years of hiking this very trail, and I’d never noticed, until I looked up. • Savannah Coleman • No one needs to tell us that our world is high-tech and fast-paced, but we all need to be reminded that we are capable of taking a break from both the rush and the technology. What do you feel God might be prompting your heart to do in this area? Perhaps it’s turning your notifications off for an hour while you read the Bible and worship. Maybe it’s being out in nature and not bringing devices with you. Even if you can only take fifteen minutes away from your phone, do it. We all need to start somewhere. Consider asking God to give you an idea you can put into practice this week, or even today, that will help you rely less on technology and more on being present to His presence. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
Transcribe →Our Heavenly Father Knows Best
1w ago00:04:21Tap to summarizeREAD: ESTHER 4:5-17; ROMANS 8:18-39 You may have heard of the old TV show Father Knows Best. This 1950s American sitcom was about a father and his family. You may or may not enjoy old black and white sitcoms, but the title might stir up some questions. It would be naïve to say that earthly parents always know best—they’re flawed people. But it is true that our heavenly Father knows best. Yet, it doesn’t always feel that way. Many times, I’ve asked God why He didn’t give me the things I prayed for. I lamented to Him when opportunities slipped from my grasp. And I cried after I had doors of opportunity slammed in my face. One Sunday, in the midst of lamenting over a lost relationship, I heard a sermon about the book of Esther. The pastor spoke about how, even though God isn’t mentioned by name in this Old Testament book, His handiwork is evident throughout the story. Reading it now, we can see God working through the good and the bad to deliver His people. The problem is, Esther didn’t get a lovely printed, leather-bound version of her story. She lived it. She was placed in the middle of the threat of her people’s extinction and told to act at the risk of her own life. Maybe looking back, she could see how God worked through the good and the bad for His purposes, but maybe not. The sermon on Esther comforted me. It reminded me that God does have a plan and He is working on it, even if He doesn’t give me all the details. In times of disappointment, I often fall back on the fact that God loves me and wants to show me His love. I know that God’s silence does not equal His absence. Jesus is with me no matter what, and He is working out His good purposes through it all. • Naomi Zylstra • Can you think of a time you prayed for something you didn’t receive? How did that feel? • In times of disappointment and heartache, God does not stand far off. He is so very near, longing to wrap us in His arms and remind us that He sees, and He cares. That’s why He invites us to honestly lament—to tell Him all about our pain and what we want Him to do about it. As we lament, we can remember that Jesus weeps with us and that He is working, not only for His glory, but also for our good. Consider taking some time to pour out your lament to Him today. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT)
Transcribe →A Bad Plan
2w ago00:04:39Tap to summarizeREAD: GENESIS 3:1-11; 1 JOHN 1:9–2:2 “Well, that was a bad decision.” “I can’t believe we did that.” “So, now what? You know He’ll find out.” “Hmmm. I have an idea. See all those bushes and trees over there? Let’s hide.” “Good plan.” Perhaps this is how the conversation went between Adam and Eve. Genesis 3 doesn’t tell us their exact dialogue, but in their story, we witness one of the worst strategies ever created. After eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve felt ashamed and guilty, a common response to wrongdoing. Then, they decided to hide from God. True story. These two humans were trying to hide from the all-knowing Creator of the universe. Gently and clearly, God drew them out from their hiding places, clothed them, and barred them from the Garden of Eden. It was a humbling moment for Adam and Eve. As much as we might want to mock them, isn’t our natural response to hide when we do wrong? It’s embarrassing to admit the truth of our sin. Wouldn’t we all rather hide until it all blows over? But God has other plans, and He has gone to great lengths to make it possible for us to receive mercy and grace. How far? God the Father sent His very own Son as a payment for our sins. While we have committed sin in the darkness and hidden afterwards, Jesus Christ was willing to die during the middle of the day, in front of witnesses, so all could see His sacrifice. And then, three days later He rose again. Our sin is not the end of the story. We’re not meant to live in the dark shadows of shame. We all sin, every day, but Christ’s death pays the price for our sin, allowing us to live unashamed in the light. • Mike Hurley • How was God merciful in His response to Adam and Eve’s sin? • What should our response be when we sin? Why are we free to go to Jesus after we’ve messed up? (Hebrews 4:14-16) My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one. He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2 (CSB)
Transcribe →